A Recap Of The Colts 2014 Offensive Draft Picks

Intro: The 2014 NFL Draft came to a close on Saturday evening and the Colts are bringing a five-man class to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Here’s a look at the Colts three offensive players joining the team.

INDIANAPOLIS – In an effort to provide Andrew Luck with electric weapons and beef in the trenches, the Colts drafted three players on offense in 2014.

It began on Friday night with offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and wide receiver Donte Moncrief.

The Colts then closed out their five-man draft class with a seventh-round selection of offensive tackle Ulrick John.

Here’s a capsule look at the Colts offensive picks in 2014:

Offensive Lineman Jack Mewhort (Ohio State)

-2013 Stats: 14 games played (14 starts at left tackle).

-Career Stats: 49 games played (39 starts) in 4 seasons.

-Mewhort’s Quote to Note: “I’m the type of guy that you can point me in the direction and I’ll figure it out and I’ll go play it. I’m not sure I’ve got a specific position pegged down right now, but I know and I’m confident that I can excel at different ones along the offensive line. So I think it’s to be determined a specific position for me but I know I’m going to go into camp and work hard.”

-Ryan Grigson’s Thoughts: “Jack is someone that was obviously a highly-recruited guy. He was a center in high school at 6’6”, which is pretty unique, and would redshirt as a center. (Mewhort) had really good film at multiple positions, in both guard spots. Heck, we just watched him play the other day as a sophomore against all those high picks at Florida, really played well at guard. Thought he played well at tackle as well. And at the Senior Bowl was the moment where we thought, ‘Wow, this Mewhort guy, he might really rise after this. So we were really happy. We’ve really legitimately had him earmarked for a long time and we’re really happy we have him. He brings versatility, toughness, strength, played at a high level at a high-level program where they’re used to winning. So I think he fits our culture very well.”

-Outlook: While the Colts are getting a versatile offensive lineman that has played all over the place, it’s clear they are getting a highly respected person off the field, too. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer calls Mewhort one of the most enjoyable players he’s ever coached and hand picked him to be a captain for the Buckeyes. Nothing was revealed in terms of a specific position for Mewhort but one would think the interior would serve as the most likely option.

Wide Receiver Donte Moncrief (Mississippi)

-2013 Stats: 13 games played (13 starts). 59 catches for 938 yards and six touchdown.

-Moncrief’s Quote to Note: “When I got that phone call, I was so happy. I had a private workout with the Colts. (Receivers coach Charlie Williams) came down and told me some great things they liked about me. Once I got that (317) call, it was shocking.”

-Ryan Grigson’s Thoughts: “He was one of the highest-rated guys on our board, and the size, the speed, the production in the SEC, and he’s still an underclassman. You’re talking about a guy that had a 16-yard average in the SEC career. He blocks. He’s a guy that’s done a lot at a high level and he’s still young. He’s still got some things to learn. You can’t teach 6’2 ½”, 220 (pounds) and runs 4.3, and you see it on the film. So we’re excited about him. He’s a worker too and he doesn’t say much. He’s a guy we interviewed him at the combine, great kid, and he’ll come in here and work and learn, and we’re excited to have him because we feel like he’s got tremendous upside.”

-Outlook: It’s yet another weapon for Andrew Luck and the Colts quarterback will be getting a unique receiver in Moncrief. The size, speed and athleticism of Moncrief lit up the charts at the Combine. At Ole Miss, Moncrief had some of his best games against the nation’s most elite defenses. The potential of a T.Y. Hilton and Moncrief combination for the long-term future is something Luck, and Colts fans, should enjoy.

Offensive Tackle Ulrick John (Georgia State)

-2013 Stats: 11 games played (11 starts at left tackle).

-Career Stats: 36 games played (25 starts) in 4 seasons.

-John’s Quote to Note: “I came on a visit and then about a week later they had (offensive line coach Joe Gilbert) give me a private workout. We had dinner and got to talk for a long time. Everything went really well and I was really looking forward to (the Colts) drafting me.”

-Ryan Grigson’s Thoughts: “He’s interesting. He played against Alabama, West Virginia this year and played pretty darn well. To me, he’s a true left tackle prospect. He’s a developmental guy. But he’s also played center and guard, so he kind of goes along with the theme. He’s a guy that has multi-position flexibility. He’s competitive, but he’s very athletic and he’s got room to grow. I’d like to see how he looks a year from now with (Colts strength coach) Roger Marandino and our weight program because we feel like he has some upside. He’s got a really good athletic base. He’s competitive. He was at our top 30 visit. He was kind of an unknown. It’s going to be interesting to see how he develops because the athletic core, character, size and all those things are there, and he knows how to play the game.”

-Outlook: By listening to Grigson’s comments, it’s pretty clear the Colts are ready to be patient with John. Last year, the Colts were able to develop guys like Daniel Adongo and Josh McNary on their practice squad before those guys reached the active roster late in the season. John seems to be a candidate to follow a similar path. In talking with John, a private workout from Gilbert, along with a visit to Indianapolis, sold the Colts on the prospect of finding a tackle with a potential frame coveted to block the blindsides of NFL quarterbacks.

Intro: The Colts put together their most dominant performance of the season on Monday night, in a resounding 41-10 victory over the Jets. Here were live in-game updates from the Colts (6-6) taking on the Jets (3-9) in Week 14.

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